In a dream, Kruppe travels back in time “to the very beginning of things” (252). He meets an ancient T’lan clansman, Pran Chole. Pran and Kruppe are joined by a pregnant human woman from Kruppe’s time, a resident of the Rhivi Plain north of Pale. She tells them that the Tellann Warren has produced a child of magic, whose body is an “abomination.” She requests Pran’s help in casting a soul shifting. She speaks of Tattersail.

Kruppe’s dream continues as he seeks out Tattersail’s soul, currently encased in Nightchill’s decayed, dead body. Kruppe leads Tattersail back to Pran and the Rhivi woman. The elder god K’rul arrives. They shift Tattersail’s soul into the woman’s unborn child. The Rhivi woman then gives birth to a child covered in silver fur. The fur instantly falls away.

Whiskeyjack’s squad plants explosives at the major intersections in Darujhistan. Whiskeyjack, in passing, says the word “seer” to Sorry. This temporarily shakes Cotillion’s control of Sorry’s mind, stirring her memories of the seer Rigga.

Sorry follows Kruppe around the city. She doesn’t know what he’s up to, but she has identified him as dangerous and wants to know more. She kills a guard outside the Phoenix Inn to gain access.